Nato summit to focus on Ukraine and Middle East, pushing Indo-Pacific aside

Nato’s 32 member states will meet in Ankara, Turkey, this week for their annual summit. The main topics are expected to be securing a fragile peace in Ukraine and managing tensions in the Middle East. This focus will likely push Indo-Pacific issues to the back burner. Analysts say the wars in Ukraine and Iran, along with Washington’s push for European allies to spend more on defense, will reduce discussion about the alliance’s cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners. This happens despite warnings from Nato’s chief about China’s growing influence.